Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: LOCKOUT

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to the hazards of breaks, amputations, and possible death by inadvertent activation of the large planer while trying to free the tie and replace the chains while the machine was not locked out: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to establish and enforce an adequate plant lockout procedure such as that stipulated by ANSI Z244.1-1982, Section 4 and 5, American National Standard of Minimum Safety Requirements for Lockout/Tagout of Energy Sources for Personnel Protection. Essential elements of the lockout procedure would include: 1) Open and lock out the main power disconnect for the machine and bleed off any residual energy; 2) Provide each potentially exposed employees working in the area with separate lock and key to be placed on the lockout means; 3) Establish a written lockout policy, including procedures to be followed and training for all affected employees, both maintenance and operational crews; 4) Periodically evaluate the program and strictly enforce all of its provisions.